Furnace



No. 749,462. PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904.

LE ROY W. STEVENS & B. TIMMERMAN. FURNACE.

APPLICATION TILED OOT.30, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

aw y m witwmoeo No. 749,462. PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904. LE ROY W. STEVENS & B. TIMMERMAN, FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETSSHEET 2,

Mia/ f No. 749,462. PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904. LE ROY W. STEVENS & B. TIMMERMAN. FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 30, 1902.

N0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W0 fi/m M:

whence j 4rd 'lMM/TM 71f No. 749,462. Patented January 12, 1904.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

LE ROY W. STEVENS AND BERNARD TIMMERMAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO ADVANCE FURNACE COMPANY OF AMERICA, A COR- PORATION OF NEW YORK.

FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,462, dated January 12, 1904.

Application filed OGiJObGI 30, 1902. Serial NO. 129,416. (NO model.)

T all whom it y OOH/667%! Referringmore specifically to thedrawings,

Be it known that we, LE ROY W. S'rEvENs wherein like reference characters refer to corand BERNARD TIMHERMAN, citizens of the responding parts in the several views, 1 1 des- United States, residing at Chicago, in the ignate inclosing walls for the substantially 5 county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invertical treating chamber or flue 2, into the vented certain new and useful Improvements upper portion of which the material is charged, in Furnaces, of which the following is a speciso as to fall by force of gravity therethrough. 55 fication, reference being had therein to the ac- The lower end 3 of the flue is somewhat encompanying drawings. larged and tapered downwardly, as shown,

This invention relates to an improvement in the same being provided with a plurality of furnaces, and has for its object the production conductors 3, which receive the falling maof a simple, economical, and effective apparaterial from the chamber 2 and direct the same tus for obtaining metals from their ores or 01 to auxiliary treating-chambers 4, one'conductaining compounds thereof of their elements tor being connected with each auxiliary cham- I 5 such, for example, as borids, silicids, carber. Of course any number of auxiliary bids, cyanids, and the like and the manufactreating-chambers may be employed, four beture of various other materials for which an ing shown in the present instance, one at each 5 apparatus of this character may be employed, side of the treating-chamber 2. The chamas will be apparent to persons skilled in the art. bers 4 are constructed to secure the reduction,

The invention contemplates the provision of smelting, refining, or ether desired treata furnace provided with a treating-chamber ments of material delivered to them. In the having associated therewith a plurality of treatment of some materials these chambers 7 auxiliary treating-chambers and a plurality of are equipped with electrical heating means to conductors, one leading from each auxiliary form electrical furnaces of any preferred form 2 5 treating-chamber to conduct the gases therewhich will be applicable for the purposes. from to the first-mentioned chamber, also As shown, each chamber i has an electrode 5 with means whereby the gases may be ignited suitably supported in the walls thereof, the 7 5 in the first-mtmtioned chamber to preheat the inner end of the electrode extending to a point material to be treated, and, further, with near the floor of said chamber.

3 means whereby the gases remaining in said 6 designates the floor, which is composed of chamber after such ignition will be conducted any suitable material, preferably of carbon, around the outside of certain portions of said supported upon a base 7, forming a conductor chamber to maintain the material to be treatbetween the carbon floor and the electric wire ed in its preheated condition. 8. 'hile but one electrode is shown, it is Novel details in the construction and arobvious that any number may be utilized, ac-

rangement of the several parts of the apparacording to the work to be accomplished. The tus will be appartnt upon an inspection of the base 7 may be of cast-iron or any other ma- 5 detailed description hereinafter when read in terial suitable for the purpose. It is desirable connection with the accompanying drawings, that the electrode be adjustable,aml any means 4 forming part hereof, and wherein a preferable may be employed therefor, that shown being a embodiment of the invention is shown for the screw-threaded rod or bolt 9, connected to the purpose of illustration. electrode and engaging the brace or frame 10. 9

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation 11 is a discharge opening which may be 1 of the furnace complete. Fig. 2 is a central plugged and controlled in any usual or convertical section of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 venient manner.

are respectively cross-sectional views of Fig. 12 designates the gas fines or conductors, 1, on a somewhat smaller scale, looking in a one extending from eachehamberupward to downward direction. and communicating with the flue 2, prcferabl y connecting with the latter at a point near its top. These flues or conductors maybe incorporated and inclosed within the walls of the furnace, (not shown,) or they may be supported on the outside of the furnace, the latter being the preferred form. hen the flues are on the outside of the furnace, suitable jackets 13 or equivalent means may be employed to prevent the escape of heat radiation.

It will be observed that the connections of the main flue 2 with the chambers 1 and the connections of the latter again with the main flue 2 through the medium of the condiiictors 12 complete the circuit of the several parts. Thus the material charged into the main flue 2 is conducted from the enlarged tapered portion thereof through the conductors 3 to the chambers 4t and there treated. The flues 12 then conduct the resultant hot and usually combustible gases to the main flue 2 and deliver the same in contact with the passing materials for the purpose of utilizing the heat for preheating and acting upon said passing material, thus rendering them much more easily and economically smelted or otherwise converted into finished product when reaching the chambers 1. The solid material may be tapped or otherwisedischarged by means of the openings 11. A circulation or draft within the flues 12 and chambers 4: may be maintained in any preferred manner, as hereinafter pointed out.

14 14 indicate oil or gas burners arranged near the top of the flue 2 in such a manner that the flame therefrom extends across and substantially fills the flue, so that whatever material is deposited therein and falls therethrough necessarily passes through a flame zone. Arrangement is made for the admission of oxygen to maintain the flame from the burners,suitably-valved pipes 14 being shown for this purpose. Valves 15 control the flow of oil or gas through the pipes 1 1.

17 is a hopper or equivalent means in which the prepared material may be placed, and 18 is a screw conveyer or its equivalent for conveying the material from the bottom of the hopper and discharging the same into the upper portion of the flue or chamber 2. This screw conveyer or feeder is designed to be operated at a speed suflicient to disehare the material to be treated into the chamber in a relatively small stream, so that said material will fall through said chamber 2 as a shower to facilitate the treating of every particle thereof.

19 is a baffle or deflector plate arranged in the flue 2 and adapted to direct the falling material to the side of the flue in order that the gases may be separated therefrom and drawn out of the flue 20, provided for this purpose, in a manner now to be pointed out. In the successful operation of the furnace it is necessary that the material to be treated be rious treating-chambers 1, so that in operation the material cannot become c i ncentrated or packed in the chamber 2 and destroy the desirable characteristics incident to feeding the same in a shower therethrough. .It is also desirable that a certain portion of the material shall fill the lower portion 3 of the chamber or flue 2 and be stored therein during the operation of the apparatus to constitute a baflie whereby any gas which might otherwise be withdrawn directly from the auxiliary chambers 4 through the conductors 3 and said portion 3 and out of the flue 20 will be prevented from taking such a course, but will be drawn upwardly by a current through the flue 12 into the upper portion of the treating-chainber 2. To attain these desired ends, the initial feed into the chamber 2 from the screw will I be somewhat greater than the combined discharge through the conductors 3, so that a part of the material will accumulate in the enlarged tapered portion of said chamber to constitute a baflle, as before mentioned, after which the screw will be regulated to feed into the chamber 2 only such material as will be equal to the combined discharge through the conductors 3. Owing to this slight accumulation of material in the portion 3 of the chamber 2,it is desirable that an additional heating medium be applied to such portion in order that the material contained therein will be maintained in its preheated condition. For this purpose I connect the flue 20 with an inclosing casing 21, which completely surrounds the lower portion 3 of the flue and is spaced therefrom to provide a chamber therebetween, a flue 22 being connected to an opposite portion of the casing. This chamber is provided with suitable deflectors 21 It will thus be seen that the hot gases exhausted from the flue 2 may pass through the flue 20 and of the circuitous course through the chamber formed within the casing 21 and out of the flue 22, thereby constituting a supplemental heater for the lower portion of the flue Any preferred means may be employed for drawing ofl the gases through the flue 22, to create a downdraft in the furnace, and through the casing 21, which will incidentally create an updraft in the flues 12, whereby a complete circulation through these parts is accomplished. A fan, pump, exhaust, blast, or stack may be employed, as found desirable, a fan 22 being shown in the present instance, the same having an operating-pillley 22 Of course the details of this fan are unimportant, so the same is simply shown in a conventional manner.

The gases withdrawn through the flue 22 may be treated as desired and employed for any purpose for which they may be useful.

The feed-screw 18 may be driven by any suitablemeans, a pulley 21 being shown, which fed in the same quantities as the material is i may derive its power from any convenient fed through all of the conductors Z) to the 'ai source.

Owing to the number of auxiliary treatingchambers L and the enormous quantities of gas generated. therein, it may happen that at times an excess of said gas is supplied to the treating-chamber 2, and to ward against any such dangerous conditions we provide a safetyvalve 23 at the top of the treating-chamber through which the excess of gas may exhaust automatically.

The furnace may be built up in any manner found most expedient. WVe have, however, shown the chamber 2 as supported upon a strong metallic or other framework 24.

The operation may now be described as follows: If, for example, it is desired to make a carbid, proper proportions of materials capable of producing the same are placed in the hopper 17 at the top of the furnace. The oil or gas burners are then lighted and the fan operated. to induce a draft through the flues 12, chamber 2, and casing 21. When the fur nace has been properly heated, the feeder 18 is started and operated sufficiently to feed a quantity of material into the portion 3 of the chamber 2 to form the baffle, as hereinbefore described. The feeder is then actuated to d ischarge material into the chamber 2 in quan titiesequal to the combined discharge through the flues 3 to the several auxiliary chambers 4:, the supply passing through the chamber 2 being in the nature of a small stream or shower. The material passing down the flue necessarily encounters the flame zone, and being subjected to the action thereof it is preheated, whence it passes the baffle or deflector plate 19 and falls through the conductors 3' to the chambers L for treatment. The chemical reaction causes the release of large quantities of gases in the chambers 4E, and these gases, which are usually combustible, are conducted through the flues l2 and delivered into the flue 2, when, coming in contact with sufficient quantities of oxygen supplied through the pipes let, the gases ignite and burst into flame, which will practically fill the chamber 2 from the gas-inlets thereto to the outlet 20 therefrom and greatly increases the temperature and intensity of the flame zone, which facilitates the treatment of the material in that the latter being supplied in a small stream or shower, as aforesaid, subjects every particle thereof to the action of said flame zone. The furnace will now be in full operation. The gases received from the chambers i and the gases released -from the passing raw materials under the influence of the heat, together with the resultant'chemical actions,beingignited, said raw materials are not only preheated to a high temperature, but are also so changed in their physical and chemical compositions within the chamber 2 as to require vastly less heat in the chambers 4 than would ordinarily be required had such materials not been first preliminarily heated, as described.

are, as stated, deflected to one side of the flue The falling materials 2 by the baffle-plate 19, and the remaining gases accompanying the same being subjected to the influence of the draft through the fine 20 are drawn off and passed around the lower portion of the flue 2 within the casing 21 to maintain the material in its preheated. condition as it falls downward into said lower portion previous to its discharge through the flues 3 into the treating-chamber 4:.

The operation is substantially continuous and is very economical and effective. The construction and operation of the parts are such that perfect control of the furnace may be maintained.

*hile in the drawings a particular embodiment of the invention is described, it is not our intention to be limited to the details shown except in so far as such details may be specifically pointed out in the appended claims, because it is obvious that many minor changes and alterations may be made without in the least departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a furnace of the character described having a treating chamber, means in said chamber for preheating the material to be treated, supplemental means exterior to said chamber arranged to receive exhaust gases therefrom whereby said material is maintained in its preheated condition, and an auxiliary treating-chamber containing electrodes.

2. In a furnace of the character described, a treating-chamber, means for preheating the material introduced into said chamber, a conductor through which heated gases are drawn from said chamber, and a casing surrounding the lower portion of said chamber into which said gases are discharged to maintain the material at said lower portion of the said chamber in its preheated condition; substantially as described.

3. In a furnace of the character described, a treating-chamber, means for introducing a gas into the material fed into said chamber, means whereby said gas is ignited to preheat the material, a flue at the lower portion of said chamber through which the heated gases are drawn from said chamber, and a casing surrounding the lower portion of the treatingchamber below the said flue into which the gases are fed from the flue to maintain the material in said lower portion in its preheated condition; substantially as described.

In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-ehamber, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for conducting the heated gases from said auxiliary chamber around the lower portion of said first-mentioned chamber, and means for creating a draft through said conducting means and a downdraft in the firstmentioned treating-chamber; substantially as and for the purpose described.

In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber,an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for creating a downdraft in said first-mentioned chamber, and means whereby heated gases from the auxiliary chamber are passed around the outside of and in proximity to the lower portion of the firstmentioned chamber previous to their exhaustion; substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for conducting gases from one of said auxiliary treatingchambers to said first-mentioned chamber, and means for creating a draft in and drawing off the gases from the first-mentioned chamber; substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for feeding material into the first-mentioned chamber in a relatively small stream and in quantities equal to the combined discharge from said chamber to the auxiliary chambers, and means for conducting gases from one of said auxiliary chambers to the first-mentioned chamber within the zone of the passing material therein; substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, a treatingchamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for feeding material into the first-mentioned chamber in a relatively small stream and in quantities equal to the combined discharge from Said chamber to the auxiliary chambers, means for conducting gases from one of said auxiliary chambers to the first-mentioned chamber within the zone of the passing material therein, and means for creating a draft in the firstmentioned chamber; substantially as described.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for feeding material into the first-mentioned chamber in a relatively small stream and in quantities equal to the combined discharge from said chamber to the auxiliary chambers, means for conducting gases from one of said auxiliary chambers to the first-mentioned chamber within the zone of the passing material therein, and means for creating a downdraft in the firstmentioned chamber; substantially as described.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for feeding material into the first-mentioned chamber in a relatively smallstream and in quantities equal to the combined discharge from said chamber to the auxiliary chambers, means for conduct ing gases from one of said auxiliary chambers to the first-mentioned chamber within the zone of the passing material therein, means where by said gases are ignited in said first-mentioned chamber, and means for creating a draft therein; substantially as described.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for feeding material into the first-mentioned chamber in a relatively small stream and in quantities equal to the combined discharge from said chamber to the auxiliary chambers, means for conducting gases from one of the auxiliary chambers to the first-mentioned chamber within the zone of the passing material therein, means whereby said gases are ignited in said. first-mentioned chamber, and means for creating a downdraft therein; substantially as described.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber,an auxiliary treating-chamber,means for conducting gases from said auxiliary chamber to said first-m entioned chamber, means for creating a draft in said first-mentioned chamber, and a safety-valve associated with said first-mentioned chamber; substantially as and for the purposedescribed.

13. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a treating-chamber, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for cond uctin g gases from said auxiliary chamber to said first-mentioned chamber, means for creating a downdraft in said first-mentioned chamber, and a safetyvalve associated with said first-mentioned chamber; substantially as and for the purpose described.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for conducting gases from one of said auxiliary chambers to said first-mentioned chamber, means for creating a draft in said first-mentioned chamber, and a safety-valve associated with said first-mentioned chamber; substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for conduct ing gases from one of said auxiliary chambers to said first-mentioned chamber, means for creating a downdraft in said first-mentioned chamber, and a safety-valve associated with said first-mentioned chamber; substantially as and for the purpose described.

16. In an a1')paratus of the character described, a treatirig-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chaml)ers, means for conducting gases from all of said auxiliary chambers to said first-mentioned chamber, means for creating a draft in said first-mentioned chamber, and a safety-valve associated with said first-mentioned chamber; substantially as described.

1'7. In an amvaratus of the character described, a treating-chamber, a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers, means for conducting gases from all of said auxiliary chambers IIO to said first-mentioned chamber, means for creating a downdraft in said first-mentioned chamber, and a safety-valve associated with said first-mentioned chamber; substantially as described.

18. In a furnace of the character described,

a treating-chamber, an auxiliary treatingchamber, means for conducting gases from said auxiliary chamber into said first-mentioned chamber, means for exhausting gases from said first-mentioned chamber, and means whereby said exhausted gases are conducted around a portion of the first-mentioned chamber; substantially as described.

19. In an apparatus of the character described,a treating-chamber, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for conducting gases from said auxiliary chamber to said first-mentioned chamber, a conductor through which gases are drawn from said first-mentioned chamber, and a casing surrounding the lower portion of said first-mentioned chamber into which said exhaust-gases are discharged; substantially as described.

20. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for conducting gases from said auxiliary chamber to said first-mentioned chamber, a conductor through which gases are drawn from said first-mentioned chamber, a casing surrounding the lower portion of said first-mentioned chamber into which said exhaust-gases are discharged, and means for creating a downdraft in the first-mentioned chamber and through the said casing surrounding the lower portion thereof; substantially as described.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for conducting gases from said auxiliary chamber to said first-mentioned chamber, a conductor through which gases are drawn from said first-mentioned chamber, a casing surrounding the lower portion of said first-mentioned chamber into which said exhaustgases are discharged, means whereby the gases are ignited in the first-mentioned chamber, and means for creating a downdraft in the first-mentioned chamber and through the said casing surrounding the lower portion thereof; substantially as described.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means for conducting gases from said auxiliary chamber to said first-mentioned chamber, a conductor through which gases are drawn from said first mentioned chamber, means whereby the gases are ignited in the first-mentioned chamber, and a casing surrounding the lower portion of said first-mentioned chamber into which said exhaust-gases are discharged; substantially as described.

23. In a'furnace of the character described, a chamber, means for preheating material introduced into said chamber, and means for conducting gases withdrawn from said chamber around the exterior thereof to maintain the material in its preheated condition; substantially as described.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, and means for preheating the material therein, in combination with a plurality of auxiliary treatingchambers, means for conducting the preheated material directly to each of said auxiliary treatingchambers, and electrodes in said auxiliary treating-chambers for secondarily treating the preheated material therein.

25. In-an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, and means for preheating the material in said chamber, in combination with a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers arranged to receive the preheated material, electrodes in said auxiliary treating chambers for further treating the preheated material, and a storing-chamber intermediate said auxiliary chambers and the first-mentioned treating-chamber.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, and means for preheating the material in said chamber, in combination with a plurality of auxiliary treating-chambers arranged to receive the preheated material, electrodes in said auxiliary treating-chambers for further treating the material, a storing-chamber intermediate said auxiliary chambers and the first-mentioned treating-chamber, and means whereby the preheated material in said storing-chamber is secondarily heated.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, means for feeding a relatively small stream of material into said chamber, means for creating a downdraftof heat through which the material freely passes, an auxiliary treating-chamber, means arranged to receive the preheated material from the first-mentioned treating-chamber and store the same, and means for feeding the material from said storing means to the auxiliary treating-chamber.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, a treating-chamber, and means for preheating the material in said chamber, in combination with an auxiliary treating-chamber arranged to receive the preheated material, means in said auxiliary treating-chamber for further treating the material, a storingchamber intermediate said auxiliary chamber and the first-mentioned treatingchamber, and means whereby the preheated material in said storing-chamber is maintained in its preheated condition.

29. In an apparatus of the character described, atreating-chamber, means therein for initially treating the material, and an auxiliary treating-chamber in combination with a storing-chamber at the bottom of said first-mentioned treating-chamber arranged to receive said treated material from the first-mentioned IIS chamber, and means for feeding the material tally treated, and a discharge from said storfrom the storingchamber to the auxiliary age-chamber. treating-chamber. Vln testimonw whereof we afiix our signatures 30. In an apparatus of the character dein presence of two witnesses. 5 scribe d atreating-chamber,and neanstherein LE ROY STEVENS for initially treating the material, in c0mb1- BFRYARD Tl MMFRMANV nation with a storing-chamber at the bottom J l J l of said treating-chamber arranged to receive itnesses: said treated material, means whereby the ma- L. M. GO'IWALD, Io terial in said st0ring-chamber is supplemen- J 05. H. MILANs. 

